Ready bound crate



May 26, 1936. A. BIGELow 2,042,329

READY BOUND CRATE Filed Dec. 28, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l A l U/QU?? [aya .5g/Glow Y 5y/13% M mw @s ummm L. A. BIGELOW READY BOUND CRATE Filed Deo. 28, 1932 May 26, 1936.

UNITED STATES PATE Patented May 26, 1936 2,042,329 READY BOUND CRATE Loyal A. Bigelow, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois v Application December 28, 1932, Serial No. 649,129

14 Claims. (Cl. 217-16) NT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in ready-bound crates Vof the type described and claimed in the co-pending applications of John Ekern Ott Serial No. 572,905, filed November 4, 1931, and Clarence S. Henderson Serial No. 648,887, led December 27, 1932.- 'Ihese prior applications disclose boxes or crates made up of complementary walls which are folded for shipment and surrounded by endless flexible binders so that the us'er of the box or -crate may unfold the walls to form a rectangular enclosure and thereby put the flexible binders under tension so that they hold the walls in proper assembled relation. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved box or crate, of the type disclosed in said applications, in which the members which make up the complementary walls are so arranged with reference to the flexible binders that the outer members may be used as skids -for sliding the box or crate along chutes or platforms Without danger of breaking the flexible binders by catching them on projecting objects. It is frequently desirable in unloading and handling boxes and crates, particularly crates which are relatively high as compared with their other dimensions, to slide them along platforms or chutes in the direction of their length and it is therefore of advantage to have lthe outer members of the walls extending vertically or in the direction in which the -box or crate is moved. If these longitudinal or vertical members are spaced apart, as in a crate, the spaces between them do not provide adequate support for a surrounding exible binder and there is danger that the portions of the binder between these members will catch on nails or other projections on the platform` or chute. The present invention overcomes this diculty by providing a ready-bound crate of the type referred to in which the outer members of the complementary walls extend longitudinally or vertically of the crate and in which the surrounding flexible binders are located inwardly of the outer surfaces of these longitudinal or vertical members. A further object of the invention is to provide a ready-bound crate comprising complementary walls having aligning grooves extending around the box or crate to receive the surrounding flexible binder. Still another object of the invention is to provide a ready-bound crate of the type referred to made up of complementary walls each composed of horizontal members and vertical members with the surrounding flexible bindersinterposed between the horizontal members and the vertical members. Another object of the invention is to provide a KVready-bound crate having complementary walls made up of horizontal members located on the inner sides of the attached vertical members and having grooves in the horizontal members to receive endless flexible binders are preferably put under tension by the operation of unfolding the walls into box or crateforming relationship. Another object of the invention is to provide a ready-bound crate comprising complementary walls folded upon each other and capable of being unfolded to form a rectangular enclosure, each of said walls being formed of outer vertical members attached to inner horizontal members which are provided with aligning grooves to receive surrounding flexible binders that would be put under tension by the operation of unfolding these walls preliminary to securing top and bottom walls thereto. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following speciication taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an improved ready-bound crate embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of one of the outer walls of the crate illustrated in Fig. 1 with parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of another of the outer walls of the crate illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a frontl elevation of the outer wall of the crate illustrated in Fig. l when these walls are collapsed or folded upon each other and surrounded by fiexible binders in readiness for shipment;

Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of the folded complementary walls illustrated in Fig. .4;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4, with parts thereof broken away, illustrating the grooves in ther horizontal members which are engaged by a surrounding fiexible binder;

Fig. 7 is' a horizontal section similar to that of Fig. 6, showing the complementary walls after they have been unfolded to form a rectangular enclosurel as illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical -section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

As illustrated in the drawings, the improved box or crate comprises a pair of oppositely dis- ,which hold the walls in assembled relation and posed outer walls I0 and another pair of oppositely disposed outer walls II which are generally alike in construction except that certain modifications of their edges are oppositely disposed so that when these walls are assembled, the edges of adjacent walls which are alike in construction are in proximity to each other, although these edges differ in detail from the opposite edges of the same walls. 'Ihese wais may be formed of wood, plywood, sawed wooden .shook. or other material, but are illustrated in the drawings as being formed vof wooden members which are secured together by nailing or the like. Although illustrated as being embodied in a crate of skeleton construction, it will be apparent that the features of the invention may be employed in boxes or the like having continuous outer walls.

Each of the walls In and II is made up of a plurality of horizontal members I2 which are located on the inner sides of the attached vertical members I3. Two of the vertical members Il are located in proximity to the ends of the horizontal members I2 and all of the members are secured together by nailing or the like. In order that adjacent edges of the complementary walls may fit together at the corners of the crate and be properly held in assembled relation by the surrounding flexible binders, the ends of the horizontal members I2 are beveled as shown at I2l and these beveled edges are preferably inclined at angles of 45 degrees to the adjacent vertical faces of the members on which they are formed so that when the four outer walls are folded upon each other as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the adjacent beveled surfaces on opposite walls extend at right angles to each other. When the walls are unfolded as shown in Fig. 7, these beveled surfaces coact with each other in pairs at the corners of the box or crate. T'he outer ends of the horizontal members lz or the wens in mid n, as they appear 1n the collapsed condition shown in Figs. 5-and 6, are provided with notches I4 extending horizontally inward from the outer ends of these members and terminating at their inner ends in inclined surfaces Il* which diverge from the inner portions of the adjacent surfaces I2* and preferably make angles of 45 degrees with the adjacent vertical surfaces of the members I2. 'I'hese notches at the outer ends of the aligning members I2, as

shown in Fig. 6, are connected on the outer sides of the members I2 by grooves I5 which are formed in the outer faces of the members I2 midway between theirupper and lower edges. The notches I4 and the grooves I5 are occupied by flexible binders I6 in the form of flat steel straps which are united at their overlapping ends by seals I1, such as that described and claimed in the United States patent to Ralph H. Norton No. 1,260,016, dated March 19, 1918, or byl other suitable fastening means.

'I'he binders I6 are retained in engagement with the notches I4 and grooves I5 by the vertical members I3 so that the use of staples or other fastening means is not required. In the construction illustrated, there are two flexible binders I6 each surrounding one f the series of horizontal frame members I2 and they are initially adjusted with a considerable degree of tautness, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with the inner ends of the opposite walls I0 and IIA lying in proximity to each other. The arrangement of these binders, however, is such that when they are unfolded from the relationship shown in Fig. 6 to the rectangular relationship shown in '7, they are put under tension to such an extent that they maintain the beveled surfaces I2* at the corners of the crate firmly in contact with each other. the notches I4 is preferably such that their inner edges are located approximately at or slightly inwardly from the inner edges of the adjacent beveled surfaces I2., but this will depend upon the thickness of the members I2 and the degree of tautness `which is desired in the binders Il when the crate is unfolded. When the walls are unfolded as shown in Fig. 7, they arein readiness for attachment to the upper and lower walls Il each of which is made up of a plurality of longitudinal members I9 secured by nails or the like to transverse members 20. These members Il and 2li form a rectangular frame which is adapted to iit within the ends of the vertical members I3 and the top and bottom walls thus formed are then secured to the ends of the members I3 by nails 2|. vThe top wall Il will, of course, be attached after the contents of the crate have been placed therein.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded in edge to edge contact with each other to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising inner members and outer members secured together, said inner members being provided with grooves in their outer sides aligning with each other in adjacent walls, and a exible binder mounted in said grooves.

2. 'The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded in edge to edge contact with each other to form an enclosure, each of said walls being formed of inner members and outer members secured together, and a flexible binder interposed between said inner members and said outer members in each of said walls and surroundingthe enclosure formed by said walls.

3. 'Ihe combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon eachother and adapted to be unfolded in edge to edge contact with each other to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising a horizontal inner member and vertical outer members secured together, said horizontal inner members being in augment with each other in adjacent walls, and

van endless flexible binder surrounding said inner members on the inner sides of said outer members to hold said walls in assembled relation, said flexble binder being of such length that it is put under increased tension by the operation of unfolding said walls.

4. 'I'he combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising a horizontal inner member and vertical outer members 'rneaepmor secured together, said horizontal inner members being in alignment `with each other in adjacent walls, and an endless flexible binder surrounding said inner members on the inner sides of said outer members to hold said walls in assembled relation, said flexible binder being adapted to be put under tension bythe operation of unfolding said walls.

5. Th'e combination in a crate or the like, of

a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising a horizontal inner member and vertical outer members, said inner members being provided with longitudinal grooves in their outer sides aligning with each other in adjacent walls, and an endless flexible binder engaging said grooves for securing said walls in assembled relation.v

6. 'Ihe combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary Walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising a. horizontal member and vertical members secured thereto, said horizontal members aligning with each other in adjacent walls and having aligning grooves formed therein, and an endless exible binder engaging said grooves and adapted to be put under tension by the operation of unfolding said walls.

7. 'Ihe combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of separate complementary Walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, said walls being provided along their vertical edges with beveled surfaces adapted to coact with each other in pairs when said walls are unfolded, said walls being provided with grooves in alignment with each other around said crate, and an endless flexible metallic binder engaging said grooves to hold said walls in assembled relation, said binder being'capable of endwise movement in said grooves and being put under tension by the operation of unfolding said walls.

8. The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising a horizontal member and vertical members secured thereto, said horizontal members aligning with each other in adjacent walls and having aligning grooves formed therein, and an endless flexible binder engaging said grooves and adapted to be put under tension by the operation of unfolding said walls, said horizontal members having beveled surfaces at their ends coacting with each other in pairs at the corners of said enclosure when said Walls are unfolded.

9. 'I'he combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary Walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls being formed of horizontal members and vertical members secured together, said horizontal members each having longitudinal grooves in their outer sides aligning with the grooves in the horizontal members of the other Walls, said horizontal members having notches at their ends in alignment with said grooves, and endless flexible binders engaging said grooves and said notches to hold said walls in assembled relationship.

10. The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each f said Walls being formed of horizontal members and vertical members secured together, said horizontal members each having longitudinal grooves in their outer sides aligning with the grooves in the horizontal members of the other walls, said horizontal members having notches in their ends located in alignment with said groove's and terminating 4at their inner ends in beveled surfaces aligning with each other in adjacent walls when said walls are unfolded,

and endless flexible binders engaging said grooves and said notches to hold said walls in assembled relationship.

11. 'Ihe combination in a crate or the'llke, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls being formed of inner horizontal members and outer vertical members secured together, said horizontal members each having longitudinal grooves in their outer sides aligning with the grooves in the horizontal members of the other walls, said horizontal members being provided at diagonally opposite corners of said enclosure with notches located in registry with said grooves, and endless exible binders engaging said notches and said grooves and adapted to be put under tension by the operation of unfolding said walls.

12. The combination in a crate or the like, oi' a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising horizontal inner members and vertical outer members, said horizontal members being provided on their outer sides with grooves aligning with the grooves in the horizontal members of adjacent walls, said horizontal members being provided at diagonally opposite corners of said enclosure with notches extending inwardly from their ends in alignment with said grooves, and endless exible binders engaging said notches and said grooves to hold said walls in assembled relationship when they are unfolded. l

13. The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enolosurefeach of said Walls comprising horizontal inner members and vertical outer members,` said horizontal members being provided on their outer sides with grooves aligning with the grooves in'the horizontal members of adjacent walls, said horizontal members being provided at diagonally opposite corners of said enclosure with notches extending inwardly from their ends in alignment with said grooves, said horizontal members being provided at their ends with beveled surfaces coacting with each other in pairs at the corners of said enclosure when said walls are unfolded, and endless exiblebinders engaging said notches and said grooves to be put under r tension when said walls are unfolded and thereby hold said beveled surfaces in engagement with each other.

14. The combination in a crate or the like, of a plurality of complementary walls folded upon each other and adapted to be unfolded to form an enclosure, each of said walls comprising inner horizontal members -and vertical outer members, the ends of said horizontal members being provided with beveled surfaces adapted to coact with each other in pairs when said walls are unfolded, said horizontal members being further provided at diagonally opposite corners of said enclosure with notches extending inwardly from their ends and terminating at their inner ends in beveled surfaces inclined oppositely to the adjacent beveled surfaces on the ends of said members, said horizontal members having longitudinal grooves therein in alignment with said notches, and endless exible binders engaging said notchesl and '7 said grooves 'and adapted to maintain said first named beveled surfaces in contact with each other at the corners of said enclosure when s aid walls are unfolded. f

LOYAL A. BIGELOW. 

